Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT lN BREECH-LOADING FlRE-ARMSI Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 32,895, dated July 23,1861.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CASPER D. SOHUBARTH, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the gun,representing the breech open in the position for receiving the cartridge; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same with the breech closed in the position for firing. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the combined guard and lever. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slide-kcy operated by the said lever. Fig. 5 is a transverse section at a; m, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists in an improved device for securing and releasing a'pivoted stock and barrel.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a portion of the stock of the gun, secured by a joint, D, to the barrel B, the joint D being fastened to the barrel by means of a dovetailed tenon, L, and screws h h.

0 is a chambered breech-piece, pivoted at J to the barrel.

E 1s a slotted key adapted to slide beneath the stock, and, by means of a stop-lock, H, to secure the parts in position when closed.

F is a chambered guard and lever 'fulcrumed by means of a pivot, f, to an eyebolt, G, which also secures the key E to the stock. Alug, 9, projects laterally from each side of the forward end of the lever F above its fulcrum, the said lugs engaging between ears on the sliding key, in order to advance and retract the latter as the lever is raised and lowered. The hammer K, and other parts not specifically described, may be of any suitable construction.

Operation: When it is desired to load the gun,'the lever F is lowered, which retracts the key E and allows the stock to fall, the breechpiece 0 being drawn back by the contact of the hammer, and the hammer being by the same movement raised to half-cock by reason of the relative positions of the pivots D and J. The rear end of the barrel is now exposed, so as to permit the insertion or withdrawal of the cartridge. Fig. 1 exhibits the positions of the various parts at this period. The cartridge 6 being inserted, the stock is raised so as to close the breech, and the lever-guard being restored to the position shown in Fig. 2, drives the key forward and secures the parts in position, the hammer remaining at half-cock. The piece is thus properly arranged for carrying, or may be instantly cooked and fired.

The cartridge employed isentirely waterproof, being formed on its upper side with a projection which, without penetrating the metallic casing, may receive the end of a wire resting in an inverted percussioncap'at bottom. The hammer strikes the casing covering the end of the said wire, either by means of a projection on its face or through the medium of a spring-pin; or the cavity in the casing may be filled with fulminating powder to be exploded by the hammer without the use of a wire.

' The above arm is effective and sure, and not liable to explode by accident, and capable of very rapid firing. Its construction is simple and economical, and it is durable and not liable to get out of repair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combined guard and lever F, pivoted so as to move in a vertical plane, and acting,

in connection with the sliding key E, to secure or release the pivoted stock A, as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

CASPER D. SOHUBARTH. Witnesses:

GEo. W. ADAMS, HENRY MARTIN.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- H. STANHOPE;

Breechhoading. Ordnance.

Patented July 23, 1861.

Wine 5525 I I I fzvmfur N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WAS'kINGTON. D. c.

4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. STANHOPE.

Brecn-Loading Ordnance.

No. g Patehted July 23, 1861.

Wzlnesses: 17 17222? 0r.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHlNGTON D C 

